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Knut Borch-Johnsen

Publications and source records attributed to Knut Borch-Johnsen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The impact of severe hypoglycemia and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia on relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Severe hypoglycemia is a major problem for patients with type 1 diabetes and their relatives. The aim of this study was to compare patients' and relatives' assessments of rates of severe hypoglycemia and state of awareness and to explore the influence on involvement and concern of relatives. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional paired questionnaire survey on hypoglycemia and the state of awareness was used in our study comprising 284 unselected adult patients with type 1 diabetes and their closest cohabitant. The cohabitant questionnaires also addressed involvement and concern. RESULTS: The agreement between assessments of rates of severe hypoglycemia and state of awareness made by patients and cohabitants was weak (kappa 0.404 and 0.442, respectively; P < 0.001). Cohabitants recalled more episodes of severe hypoglycemia than patients (2.7 vs. 1.6 episodes/patient-year; P < 0.001). Degree of involvement was positively related to the rate of severe hypoglycemia (P = 0.002) and negatively related to the state of awareness (P = 0.007) but not to level of HbA(1c), duration of diabetes, or presence of late complications, except for peripheral neuropathy (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cohabitants of patients with type 1 diabetes recall significantly more episodes of severe hypoglycemia than the patients. The rate of severe hypoglycemia and state of hypoglycemic awareness are the principal determinants of degree of cohabitants' involvement in their partners' disease.

Adult↗

Age- and sex-specific prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose regulation in 11 Asian cohorts.

OBJECTIVE: To report the age- and sex-specific prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) according to revised World Health Organization criteria for diabetes in Asian populations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed 11 studies of 4 countries, comprising 24,335 subjects (10,851 men and 13,484 women) aged 30-89 years who attended the 2-h oral glucose tolerance test and met the inclusion criteria for data analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes increased with age and reached the peak at 70-89 years of age in Chinese and Japanese subjects but peaked at 60-69 years of age followed by a decline at the 70 years of age in Indian subjects. At 30-79 years of age, the 10-year age-specific prevalence of diabetes was higher in Indian than in Chinese and Japanese subjects. Indian subjects also had a higher prevalence of IGR in the younger age-groups (30-49 years) compared with that for Chinese and Japanese subjects. Impaired glucose tolerance was more prevalent than impaired fasting glycemia in all Asian populations studied for all age-groups. CONCLUSIONS: Indians had the highest prevalence of diabetes among Asian countries. The age at which the peak prevalence of diabetes was reached was approximately 10 years younger in Indian compared with Chinese and Japanese subjects. Diabetes and IGR will be underestimated in Asians based on the fasting glucose testing alone.

Adult↗

Prevalences of diabetes and impaired glucose regulation in a Danish population: the Inter99 study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the age- and sex-specific prevalence of impaired fasting glycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, screen-detected diabetes, and known diabetes in a Danish population aged 30-60 years and to examine the phenotype and the cardiovascular risk profile in individuals with impaired glucose regulation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In the Inter99 study, 13,016 inhabitants living in Copenhagen County were invited. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements, blood samples, and a 75-g standardized oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: The age-specific prevalences in men were as follows: impaired fasting glycemia: 1.4-16.3%; impaired glucose tolerance: 6.9-17.8%; screen-detected diabetes: 0.7-9.7%; and known diabetes: 0-5.8%. The corresponding figures in women were 0-5.1, 10.5-17.3, 0.6-6.3, and 0.5-9%. The prevalence of impaired glucose regulation increased with age. Among individuals with diabetes, 65.6% were previously undiagnosed; this proportion was highest in the youngest age-group (82% among 45-year-old men vs. 63% among 60-year-old men, and 70% among 45-year-old women vs. 52% among 60-year-old women). Mean BMI, waist, HbA(1c), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the individuals with impaired glucose regulation compared with individuals with normal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is high and that still two out of three individuals are undiagnosed, indicating a need for more attention to the disease in society.

Adult↗

[Microalbuminuria is associated with a fourfold increased risk of ischemic heart disease among hypertensive patients].

INTRODUCTION: The urinary excretion of albumin is positively correlated to the presence of ischaemic heart disease and atherosclerotic risk factors in subjects with arterial hypertension. The aim of this population-based, follow-up study of hypertensive patients was to assess the predictive impact of a slightly elevated urinary excretion of albumin, i.e. microalbuminuria, on ischaemic heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1983-1984, blood pressure, the albumin/creatinine concentration ratio in a morning urine sample, total and HDL cholesterol in plasma, body mass index, and smoking habits were measured in a population of 2085 men and women aged 30-60 years. Exclusion criteria were ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and renal or urinary tract disease. Untreated hypertension or borderline hypertension (a systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg) were found in 204 of the participants, who were followed up until 1993 with respect to the development of ischaemic heart disease through the Danish Hospital Register and Death Certificate Register. RESULTS: Over 1978 person-years, 18 participants (9%) developed ischaemic heart disease. Microalbuminuria, defined as a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio above the upper decile in the hypertensive population under study (1.07 mg/mmol), was the strongest predictor of ischaemic heart disease with a relative risk (95% confidence interval) of 4.2 (1.5-11.9) (p = 0.006). When adjusted for all other variables, including age and sex, the relative risk was 3.5 (1.0-12.1) (p = 0.05). DISCUSSION: Microalbuminuria is associated with a fourfold increased risk of ischaemic heart disease in subjects with untreated hypertension or borderline hypertension. Urinary excretion of albumin should perhaps be monitored regularly in the hypertension clinic, and rigorous control of blood pressure and other modifiable atherosclerotic risk factors is to be recommended in hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria.

Adult↗

Transvascular low-density lipoprotein transport in patients with diabetes mellitus (type 2): a noninvasive in vivo isotope technique.

OBJECTIVE: The increased risk of atherosclerosis associated with diabetes cannot be explained by conventional cardiovascular risk factors alone. We hypothesized that transvascular lipoprotein transport may be increased in patients with diabetes, possibly explaining increased intimal lipoprotein accumulation and, thus, atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed an in vivo method for measurement of transvascular transport of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and applied it in 16 patients with maturity-onset diabetes (type 2) and 29 healthy control subjects. Autologous 131I-labeled LDL was reinjected intravenously in addition to 125I-labeled albumin, and the 1-hour fractional escape rates were taken as indices of transvascular transport. Both parameters were normally distributed, and they were tightly correlated (R2=0.69, P<0.0001). Transvascular LDL transport was 5.4+/-2.9%/h and 4.1+/-1.5%/h in patients with diabetes and control subjects, respectively (P<0.05); equivalent values for albumin were 6.5+/-2.5%/h and 5.3+/-1.6%/h (P<0.05). This difference most likely was not caused by altered hepatic LDL receptor expression, glycosylation of LDL, small LDL size, nephropathy, statin use, or different plasma insulin levels in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Transvascular LDL transport may be increased in patients with type 2 diabetes. This suggests that lipoprotein flux into the arterial wall is increased in people with diabetes, possibly explaining the accelerated development of atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

[Screening and intervention. A strategy in type 2 diabetes?].

Before the introduction of screening for type 2 diabetes, it is necessary to evaluate not only the technology, but also the patient perspective, the economical consequences, and the organising aspects. A review of the relevant literature shows that type 2 diabetes is a rapidly increasing, serious disease. However, there is no documentation that systematic screening will have a positive effect on morbidity and mortality, owing to the lack of randomised clinical trials. The methods for screening could be optimised, and there is a lack of literature on patient perspective. Economical models indicate that opportunistic screening is more cost-effective than is systematic screening, but the lack of randomised trials makes the conclusion dubious. A decision to introduce systematic screening for type 2 diabetes should await the results of ongoing randomised clinical trials. In the meantime, efforts should be spent on improving the level of care for those already diagnosed with diabetes.

Cost of Illness↗

The fasting plasma glucose cut-point predicting a diabetic 2-h OGTT glucose level depends on the phenotype.

To assess the use of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) alone for the screening of diabetes as defined by a 2-h plasma glucose (2-h PG) > or =11.1 mmol/l following a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, we collated the results from 17512 subjects aged 30-89 years without a previous history of diabetes from 12 general population-based Asian studies. The performance of FPG corresponding to the 2-h PG > or =11.1 mmol/l was characterized. The prevalence of diabetes was 4.0% by the FPG criteria only and 6.0% by the 2-h PG criteria only. The FPG value of 7.0 mmol/l gave a sensitivity for diabetes as defined by a 2-h PG > or =11.1 mmol/l of 46% and specificity of 99%. The FPG associated with a 2-h PG > or =11.1 mmol/l with optimal sensitivity and specificity was 5.8 mmol/l (sensitivity 79%, specificity 85%). The optimal FPG cut-point was affected by gender, age, body mass index and the presence of hypertension, and the resulting sensitivity and specificity corresponding to each optimal cut-point changed. The FPG was a specific but insensitive screening test for diabetes defined by 2-h PG > or =11.1 mmol/l. There seems to be ethnic differences with respect to optimal FPG cut-point, and different screening strategies may be necessary in different parts of the world.

Adult↗

Urine albumin/creatinine ratio and echocardiographic left ventricular structure and function in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy: the LIFE study. Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction.

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria, reflecting systemic microvascular damage, and left ventricular (LV) geometric abnormalities have both been shown to predict increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between these markers of cardiovascular damage has not been evaluated in a large hypertensive population. METHODS: The urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and echocardiographic measures of LV structure and function were obtained in 833 patients with stage I to III hypertension and LV hypertrophy determined by electrocardiogram (ECG) (Cornell voltage-duration or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria) after 14 days of placebo treatment. RESULTS: Patients' mean ages were 66 years, 42% were women, 23% had microalbuminuria, and 5% had macroalbuminuria. Patients with eccentric or concentric LV hypertrophy had higher prevalences of microalbuminuria (average 26%-30% vs 9%, P <.001) and macroalbuminuria (6%-7% vs <1%, P <.001). Furthermore, patients with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria had a significantly higher LV mass and lower endocardial and midwall fractional shortening. Patients with abnormal diastolic LV filling parameters had a significantly increased prevalence of microalbuminuria. In univariate analyses, UACR correlated positively to LV mass, systolic blood pressure, age (all P <.001) and pulse pressure/stroke volume and negatively to relative wall thickness (both P <.01) and endocardial (P <.05) and midwall shortening (P <.001) but not to diastolic filling parameters. In multiple regression analysis higher UACR was associated with higher LV mass (beta=.169, P <.001) independently of older age (beta =.095, P <.01), higher systolic pressure (beta=.163), black race (beta=.186), and diabetes (beta=.241, all P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients with ECG LV hypertrophy, abnormal LV geometry and high LV mass are associated with high UACR independent of age, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and race, suggesting parallel cardiac and microvascular damage.

Aged↗

Microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy: the LIFE study.

OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular hypertrophy and albuminuria have both been shown to predict increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between these markers of cardiac and renal glomerular damage has not been evaluated in a large hypertensive population with target organ damage. The present study was undertaken to determine whether albuminuria is associated with persistent electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy, independent of established risk factors for cardiac hypertrophy, in a large hypertensive population with left ventricular hypertrophy who were free of overt renal failure. METHODS: Patients with stage II-III hypertension were enrolled in the study if they had left ventricular hypertrophy on a screening ECG by Cornell voltage-duration product and/or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria, and clinic blood pressures between 160 and 200/95-115 mmHg and plasma creatinine < 160 mmol/l. A second ECG and morning spot urine were obtained after 14 days of placebo treatment. Renal glomerular permeability was evaluated by urine albumin/creatinine (UACR, mg/mmol). Microalbuminuria was present if UACR > 3.5 mg/mmol and macroalbuminuria if UACR > 35 mg/mmol. RESULTS: The mean age of the 8029 patients was 66 years, 54% were women. Microalbuminuria was found in 23% and macroalbuminuria in 4% of patients. Microalbuminuria was more prevalent in patients of African American (35%), Hispanic (37%) and Asian (36%) ethnicity, heavy smokers (32%), diabetics (36%) and in patients with ECG left ventricular hypertrophy by both ECG-criteria (29%). Urine albumin/creatinine was positively related to Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria and Cornell voltage-duration product criteria. In multiple regression analysis, higher UACR was independently associated with older age, diabetes, higher blood pressure, serum creatinine, smoking and left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients smoking > 20 cigarettes/day had a 1.6-fold higher prevalence of microalbuminuria and a 3.7-fold higher prevalence of macroalbuminuria than never-smokers. ECG left ventricular hypertrophy by Cornell voltage-duration product or Sokolow-Lyon criteria was associated with a 1.6-fold increased prevalence of microalbuminuria and a 2.6-fold increase risk of macroalbuminuria compared to no left ventricular hypertrophy on the second ECG. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderately severe hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy on two consecutive ECGs is associated with increased prevalences of micro- and macroalbuminuria compared to patients without persistent ECG left ventricular hypertrophy. High albumin excretion was related to left ventricular hypertrophy independent of age, blood pressure, diabetes, race, serum creatinine or smoking, suggesting parallel cardiac damage and albuminuria.

Aged↗

Risk of new-onset diabetes in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study.

BACKGROUND: There has been uncertainty about the risk of new-onset diabetes in hypertensive individuals treated with different blood pressure-decreasing drugs. OBJECTIVES: To study this risk in hypertensive individuals who were at risk of developing diabetes mellitus in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study. METHODS: In the LIFE study, with a double-masked, randomized, parallel-group design, 9193 patients (46% men) with hypertension (mean age 67 years, average pressure 174/98 mmHg after placebo run-in) and electrocardiogram-documented left ventricular hypertrophy were randomly assigned to once-daily losartan- or atenolol-based antihypertensive treatment and followed for at least 4 years (mean 4.8 years). At baseline, 7998 patients did not have diabetes mellitus and were thus at risk of developing this condition during the study. To demonstrate ability to predict new-onset diabetes, we developed a prediction score using the significant variables from multivariate analyses (serum glucose, body mass index, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and history of prior use of antihypertensive drugs). RESULTS: There was a steadily increasing risk of diabetes with increasing level-of-risk score; patients in the highest quartile were at considerably greater risk than those in the three lower ones. Treatment with losartan was associated with lower risk of development of diabetes within each of the four quartiles of the risk score. As previously reported, new-onset diabetes mellitus occurred in 242 patients receiving losartan (13.0 per 1000 person-years) and 320 receiving atenolol (17.5 per 1000 person-years); relative risk 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.63 to 0.88; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: New-onset diabetes could be strongly predicted by a newly developed risk score using baseline serum glucose concentration (non-fasting), body mass index, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, systolic blood pressure and history of prior use of antihypertensive drugs. Independently of these risk factors, fewer hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy developed diabetes mellitus if they were treated with losartan than if they were treated with atenolol.

Aged↗

Comment: studies of the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPAR-gamma gene in the Danish MONICA cohort: homozygosity of the Ala allele confers a decreased risk of the insulin resistance syndrome.

The Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPAR-gamma 2 has been shown to influence insulin sensitivity and the risk of type 2 diabetes in various ethnic populations. We examined whether the polymorphism was related to the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) among nondiabetic Danish subjects. The Pro12Ala variant was examined using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in a phenotypically well characterized population-based sample of 2245 nondiabetic subjects. The study participants were characterized by a number of anthropometric and biochemical measurements and the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance criteria enabling a classification of the study population in an IRS group and a non-IRS group. The allelic frequency of the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the total study sample was 14% (95% confidence interval, 13-15%). Two hundred ninety-four subjects fulfilled the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance criteria defining the IRS. The frequency of the Ala allele was 12.6% in the IRS group and 14.2% among subjects classified as not having the IRS (P = 0.15). However, the frequency of the variant in the homozygous form was significantly lower in the IRS group [0.7% (0-1.6%)] compared with the frequency in the non-IRS group [2.8% (2.1-3.5%); P = 0.02; odds ratio, 0.24 (0.06-0.99)]. Moreover, in the total study population, homozygous carriers of the variant had lower levels of fasting serum triglyceride [1.1 +/- 0.4 mmol/liter (means +/- SD) vs. 1.4 +/- 0.9 mmol/liter; P = 0.04] and a lower diastolic blood pressure (79 +/- 8 mm Hg vs. 82 +/- 11 mm Hg; P = 0.01) compared with wild-type carriers. The same tendency was observed with regard to the homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance (P = 0.16). There were no differences between genotype groups with respect to measures of body composition (BMI and waist circumference). In conclusion, homozygosity of the codon 12 variant of PPAR-gamma 2 confers a reduced risk of the IRS among Danish Caucasian subjects.

Adult↗

A P387L variant in protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) is associated with type 2 diabetes and impaired serine phosphorylation of PTP-1B in vitro.

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that variability in the protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) gene is associated with type 2 diabetes. Using single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis, we examined cDNA of PTP-1B from 56 insulin-resistant patients with type 2 diabetes as well as cDNA from 56 obese patients. Four silent variants, (NT CGA-->CGG) R199R, (NT CCC-->CCT) P303P, 3'UTR+104insG, and 3'UTR+86T-->G, and one missense variant, P387L, were found. Subsequent analysis on genomic DNA revealed two intron variants, IVS9+57C-->T and IVS9+58G-->A, and two missense variants, G381S and T420M. The G381S and 3'UTR+104insG insertion variants were not associated with type 2 diabetes. In an association study, the P387L variant was found in 14 of 527 type 2 diabetic subjects (allelic frequency 1.4%, 0.4-2.4 CI) and in 5 of 542 glucose-tolerant control subjects (allelic frequency 0.5%, CI 0.1-1.1), showing a significant association to type 2 diabetes (P = 0.036). In vitro, p34 cell division cycle (p34(cdc2)) kinase-directed incorporation of [gamma-(32)P]ATP was reduced in a mutant peptide compared with native peptide (387P: 100% vs. 387L: 28.4 +/- 5.8%; P = 0.0012). In summary, a rare P387L variant of the PTP-1B gene is associated with a 3.7 (CI 1.26-10.93, P = 0.02) genotype relative risk of type 2 diabetes in the examined population of Danish Caucasian subjects and results in impaired in vitro serine phosphorylation of the PTP-1B peptide.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Variants within the calpain-10 gene on chromosome 2q37 (NIDDM1) and relationships to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and impaired acute insulin secretion among Scandinavian Caucasians.

Variations in the calpain-10 gene (CAPN10) have been identified among Mexican-Americans, and an at-risk haplotype combination (112/121) defined by three polymorphisms, UCSNP-43, -19, and -63, confers increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Here we examine the three polymorphisms in 1,594 Scandinavian subjects, including 409 type 2 diabetic patients, 200 glucose-tolerant control subjects, 322 young healthy subjects, 206 glucose-tolerant offspring of diabetic patients, and 457 glucose-tolerant 70-year-old men. The frequency of the 112/121 combination was not significantly different in 409 type 2 diabetic subjects compared with 200 glucose-tolerant control subjects (0.06 vs. 0.05; odds ratio 1.32 [95% CI 0.58-3.30]). In glucose-tolerant subjects, neither the single-nucleotide polymorphisms individually nor the 112/121 combination were associated with alterations in plasma glucose, serum insulin, or serum C-peptide levels at fasting or during an oral glucose tolerance test, estimates of insulin sensitivity, or glucose-induced insulin secretion. In conclusion, the frequency of the 112/121 at-risk haplotype of CAPN10 is low among Scandinavians and we were unable to demonstrate significant associations between the CAPN10 variants and type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, or impaired insulin secretion.

Adult↗

Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance among the inuit population of Greenland.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) among the Inuit population of Greenland and to determine risk factors for developing glucose intolerance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 917 randomly selected adult Inuit subjects living in three areas of Greenland. Diabetes and IGT were diagnosed using the oral glucose tolerance test. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were measured and blood samples were taken from each subject. Sociodemographic characteristics were investigated using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalences of diabetes and IGT were 10.8 and 9.4% among men and 8.8 and 14.1% among women, respectively. Of those with diabetes, 70% had not been previously diagnosed. Significant risk factors for diabetes were family history of diabetes, age, BMI, and high alcohol consumption, whereas frequent intake of fresh fruit and seal meat were inversely associated with diabetic status. Age, BMI, family history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, and place of residence were significant predictors of IGT. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes is high among the Inuit of Greenland. Heredity was a major factor, while obesity and diet were important environmental factors. The high proportion of unknown cases suggests a need for increased diabetes awareness in Greenland.

Adult↗

Increased risk of childhood type 1 diabetes in children born after 1985.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence rate of childhood type 1 diabetes is thought to be increasing; however, Danish studies have not confirmed this. Using a national diabetes register initiated in 1996 and two previous regional incidence studies, we studied the age-specific incidence of type 1 diabetes over 30 years. Here, we describe the incidence rates of type 1 diabetes in Danish children from 1996 to 2000 and evaluate trends in age-specific incidence rates from 1970 to 2000. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A nationwide registration of all newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes among children under the age of 15 years was established in Denmark in 1996. Incidence rates of type 1 diabetes in Denmark were obtained from this register. Age-specific incidence rates were compared with data collected from 1970 to 1976 and from 1980 to 1984, both population-based studies using existing national routine registration of hospitalizations within the survey areas. Population data were obtained from Statistics Denmark. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,421 Danish children developed type 1 diabetes before the age of 15 years. The incidence rates by age-groups were: 12.7, 19.4, and 26.3 for the 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years age-groups, respectively, and 19.5 for the 0-14 years age-group per 100,000 in the period 1996-2000. An age-period-cohort analysis showed a modest drift effect (yearly increase) of 1.2% (0.7-1.8) from 1970 to 2000, and a significant birth cohort effect with an increased risk for children born after 1985 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of type 1 diabetes is rising in children living in Denmark. The steep increase in the youngest age-group was explained by the increased risk for cohorts born at the beginning of the 1980s.

Adolescent↗

Frequency of the WHO metabolic syndrome in European cohorts, and an alternative definition of an insulin resistance syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To describe the frequency, in some European populations, of the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined metabolic syndrome and to compare the frequency of this syndrome with an alternative definition for non-diabetic subjects, called the insulin resistance syndrome proposed by the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR). METHODS: Investigators of eight European studies contributed, according to a written protocol, the frequencies of abnormalities of these two syndromes, by sex and age class, as well as the overall frequencies of the syndromes and the average number of abnormalities: 8200 men and 9363 women were included. RESULTS: The frequency of both syndromes increased with age and was almost always higher in men than women for a given age. In non-diabetic subjects the frequency of the WHO syndrome varied between 7% and 36% for men 40 to 55 years; for women of the same age, between 5% and 22%. The EGIR syndrome was less frequent than the WHO syndrome (1% to 22% in men, 1% to 14% in women 40-55 years), and in men this was mainly due to the differing definitions of central obesity, as the WHO definition included overall obesity, BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2). CONCLUSIONS: There is great variability in the frequency of the syndrome between different populations, due to the differing frequencies of the abnormalities and no doubt to the differing methodologies of measurement. Prospective studies and advances in the knowledge of physio-pathological mechanisms are required to determine the most appropriate and practical definition of the syndrome.

Cohort Studies↗